The heat of the summer is behind us just in time for marathon season! We've provided you with a list of some of the marathons and fun runs happening
locally to get you up and moving this fall.
Below you will find a listing and description for races that will be coming in this fall. Click on the name of any race to be redirected to its registration
website. Check back to get the scoop on events coming this winter!
Please note this is not a complete list of every race . . . McHenry County Living Magazine has a great race guide for those events local to McHenry County so don’t forget to check that out as well.
Race: Sunset 5K
Date: September 2
Location: Sunset Park, LITH
Distance: 3.1 Mile Fun Run & 2 Mile Walk.
How fun is this that this race takes place on a Friday night!! Stay for the Sunset Festival after - they have wine tasting, carnival, classic car show, and bands!
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Race: Crystal Lake Half Marathon
Date: September 11
Location: Lippold Park, Crystal Lake
Distance: 13.1 miles
Smith will have a booth at this race with 2 amazing massage therapists from Natural Therapy and Wellness Center. More importantly, the race will have a special dedication to First Responders on this anniversary of Sept 11.
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Race: Naperville Trails Half Marathon
Date: September 11
Location: Danada Forest Preserve, Wheaton
Distance: 13.1 miles
Part of the Chicago Half Marathon Series, benefits Special Olympics IL. This race takes place through the paths of Danada Forest Preserve, which is beautiful!
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Race: Fox Valley Marathon Races
Date: September 18
Location: St. Charles
Distance: Marathon (26.2 miles) & Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
This race is a Boston Marathon qualifier and follows the Fox River. In 2013, this race was rated by Competitor Magazine as a "Midwest Must Do Race".
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Race: Operation Christmas Child
Date: September 18
Location: Emricson Park, Woodstock
Distance: 5K (3.1 mile) Run/2K Walk
Benefits Operation Christmas Child to provide shoebox gifts to children in need around the world. Enough said.
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Race: Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Date: September 25, 2016
Location: Sunset Park, LITH
Distance: 2 miles
This is a world-wide event and all the proceeds benefit Alzheimer’s support, care, and research. On race day you receive a colored wrist band that you choose to represent your connection to the disease. It's both heartbreaking and inspiring to see all the colors represented.
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Race: Chicago Half Marathon & 5K
Date: September 27
Location: Chicago
Distance: 13.1 miles & 3.1 miles
This is the 20th anniversary of this race this year. And they spared no expense to make it a celebration with than 15 on-course entertainment groups. They have a special wheelchair start time and the course is flat and fast.
Race: Moraine Hills Run for the Hills
Date: October 1
Location: Moraine Hills State Park, McHenry
Distance: Half Marathon (13.1 miles) & 10K (6.2 miles)
Please come visit out tent at this race. This race is one of our favorites because Moraine Hills is a little oasis and so fun to run through while watching for wildlife. The race size is limited so register early.
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Race: Pumpkin Stampede 5K
Date: October 2
Location: Lippold Park, Crystal Lake
Distance: 3.1 miles
Benefits the Andrea Lynn Cancer Fund (which partners with the Centegra Sage Cancer Center) to provide grants to families struggling to make ends meet while receiving cancer treatment. There is also a one- mile kids run.
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Race: Mane in Heaven Trot-A-Thon
Date: October 2
Location: Silver Lining Equestrian, LITH
Distance: 5K (3.1 miles) & 1-Mile Fun Run
Benefits Main In Heaven which provides animal-assisted activity and therapy visits with miniature horses (who doesn’t love those??!!) leading to improved outcomes of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This year there is a one-mile family timed race called the “Mini Trot.”
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Race: Prairie State Half Marathon & 10K
Date: October 8
Location: Downtown Long Grove
Distance: 13.1 miles & 6.2 miles
Part of the Chicago Half Marathon Series, benefits Helping From Heaven- The Lexi Kazian Foundation which helps provide therapy equipment for special needs children. The course is through the cute town of Long Grove. This year they have a sweet zip up as swag for running the race!
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Race: Chicago Marathon
Date: October 9
Location: Grant Park, Chicago
Distance: 26.2 miles
This is the big race of the year in Chicagoland. This is one of the only races in the country where all 50 states are represented! Be part of the crowd and cheer for your friends and loved ones running. Public transportation makes it easy to navigate between observation sites along the race. And, the 27th Mile Post-Race Party features live entertainment, food & beer, & massage therapy!
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Race: World’s Largest Corn Maze Run
Date: October 16
Location: Richardson Adventure Farm, Spring Grove
Distance: 5K (3.1 miles)
Normally I would be totally freaked out by this race because Corn Mazes scare me (is that weird?) but they have this course marked so you can’t get lost! There is also a 100 meter maze dash for kids. This race benefits the Special Olympics in Illinois.
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Race: Care 4 Breast Cancer 5K
Date: October 16
Location: Woodstock North High School
Distance: 3.1 miles
Come visit our booth at this race. If you are participating, watch the race’s Facebook Page for videos and tips featuring Denise on running technique! The race supports McHenry County Family Health Partnership Clinic and has over 3,000 racers this year. Packet pick-up is at our favorite running store!
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Race: Elgin Zombie Run
Date: October 22
Location: Elgin
Distance: 5K (3.1 miles) & 1-mile walk
If this race didn’t benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin, I would be afraid of this run too because it features a Zombie costume contest!
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Race: Chicago Country Sole
Date: October 22, 2016
Location: Montrose Harbor, Chicago
Distance: Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
Benefits Back on My Feet Chicago, a running-based model to restore confidence in the homeless community and provides practical training and employment resources. I think this is an amazing concept and you can’t beat the view. Best part: Southern-style breakfast WITH Beer post-race and live country music.
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Race: Operation Click Run For Their Lives 5K
Date: October 30
Location: Lippold Park, Crystal Lake
Distance: 3.1 miles
You can wear a costume to this race! This is the second annual event and the race benefits Operation Click, which promotes safe driving habits for teenage drivers.
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Race: Hot Chocolate 15K/5K
Date: October 30
Location: Grant Park, Chicago
Distance: 9.3 miles & 3.1 miles
Though this race benefits the Ronald McDonald House Charities (which is just an amazing charity), the best part of this race is the swag you get and the chocolate waiting for you at the finish line. The one challenge is the wait to get to the starting line if it is cold - so be prepared for that!
Race: Hot Cider Hustle
Date: November 5
Location: Danada Forest Preserve, Wheaton
Distance: 8 mile & 3 mile
Hot cider waits for you at the end of this pretty run through the Danada Forest Preserve. You also receive a souvenir mug and long sleeve tech shirt. Another great way to raise money for the Special Olympics IL.
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Race: Henry’s Thanksgiving Day Hustle
Date: November 24
Location: Marlowe Middle School, Lake in the Hills
Distance: 5K and Kids Dash
This race is brought to you by our friends at Kopf Running and benefits the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Algonquin-LITH Interfaith Food Pantry. What a perfect way to burn a bunch of calories before you gorge yourself on turkey and stuffing. This is my favorite meal of the whole year and now I have a favorite race to do before it!
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Race: Schaumburg Turkey Trot
Date: November 26
Location: Busse Forest Nature Preserve, Elk Grove Village
Distance: Half Marathon (13.1 miles) & 5K (3.1 miles)
Part of the Chicago Half Marathon Series, this race benefits Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America to fund research in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. This race celebrates the end of the racing season. And you get a sweet race hoodie!
